Bianca Gonzalez is crowned Shell FuelSave celebrity driver of the year at Shell Eco-marathon Asia

Bianca Gonzalez is crowned Shell FuelSave celebrity driver of the year at Shell Eco-marathon Asia

Feb 11, 2014

Shell Eco-marathon Asia, Manila, 7 February 2014: Shell today crowns TV host and editor at large, Bianca Gonzalez from the Philippines as ‘Shell FuelSave Celebrity Driver of the Year’ following her final leg in the Shell FuelSave Celebrity Driving Challenge.

Shell Eco-marathon Asia, Manila, 7 February 2014: Shell today crowns TV host and editor at large, Bianca Gonzalez from the Philippines as ‘Shell FuelSave Celebrity Driver of the Year’ following her final leg in the Shell FuelSave Celebrity Driving Challenge.

Taking to the Shell Eco-Marathon track in an ultra-energy efficient vehicle built by engineering students, Gonzalez beat competition from three other famous faces, driving an astounding distance of 67.61 kilometers on just one liter of Shell FuelSave fuel. Today’s challenge put Gonzalez’s driving skills to the test in an attempt to drive the farthest using the least amount of energy, demonstrating how anyone can become more fuel efficient by using the right fuel and making a few simple changes to driving habits.

Not only did the celebrities challenge each other on the track, the group, including actor Alex Simon Rendell of Thailand; model and TV host Lisa Surihani of Malaysia; and celebrity DJ Jean Danker of Singapore also joined forces in a collective effort to drive the furthest with the least amount of fuel and achieved a total distance of 218.95 kilometers on just one litre of Shell FuelSave fuel each.

Gonzalez said: “I’m delighted to be crowned Shell FuelSave Celebrity Driver of the Year and to be part of this enthusiastic team. However, the real stars here are the students. It’s been an honour to be part of their experience and to see such dedication and creativity in approaching future energy needs and challenges.”

“Before embarking on this challenge I had no idea how easy it could be to become more fuel efficient and manage my motoring costs. Now I know simple things like choosing the right fuel and making a few small changes to our driving style can make a big difference,” she added.

Oying Yam, Pilipinas Shell Vice President for Retail added: “We are delighted to celebrate such an impressive result today. Through Shell Eco-marathon we hope to inspire the next generation of engineers to meet future energy needs. Bianca Gonzalez has also shown Filipino drivers how easy it can be to become more fuel efficient today.”

In its fifth year in Asia, Shell Eco-marathon is one of the world’s most innovative student competitions, inviting teams from around the world to compete in ultra energy efficient vehicles they have designed and built, sparking debate around the future of mobility. The event, which takes place for the first time in Manila from 6 to 9 February, sees over 100 teams from 15 countries, including 15 teams from the Philippines taking part.

In the lead up to the event, Shell challenged Bianca Gonzalez to drive from Shell Refinery in Tabangao, Batangas to Intramuros, Manila. Meeting Philippines’ brightest engineering students along the route, Gonzalez picked up fuel efficient driving tips and shared these with regular drivers as she prepared for the final challenge in Manila.

To find out more about Shell Eco-marathon and discover simple tips to help manage motoring costs, please visit the Shell FuelSave website.

About Shell FuelSave fuels

Shell FuelSave Gasoline and Shell FuelSave Diesel are our Regular priced fuels designed to last longer. Currently available in 20 countries, they contain active efficiency ingredients and are designed to improve engine efficiency from the very first tank.

Shell has more than 100 years’ experience in creating some of the world’s most advanced fuels. We are also committed to equipping motorists with the skills needed to be more fuel efficient. In 2012, we launched the Target One Million campaign to help one million drivers around the world learn how to make their fuel last longer and have now helped more than 400,000 motorists worldwide to become more fuel efficient. Find out more at the Shell FuelSave website.

About Shell Eco-marathon

Shell Eco-marathon began in 1939 at a Shell research laboratory in the United States as a friendly wager between scientists to see who could get the most miles per gallon from their vehicle. The winner of that contest barely achieved 50 mpg (21 km/l) and from these humble origins a more organised competition evolved. In 1985 in France, Shell Eco-marathon as we know it today was born. In 2007, the

Shell Eco-marathon Americas event was launched in the United States. In 2010, the inaugural Shell Eco-marathon Asia was held in Malaysia, where the event was hosted until 2013. In 2014, Shell Eco-marathon Asia will be held in Manila, the Philippines, where the event will be hosted until 2016.